Today, on NPR, Governor Gary Herbert claimed that Utah State’s government does a good job at creating and protecting public lands. However, if one looks on the state’s website at https://stateparks.utah.gov/, you will notice that the vast majority of public lands are found along major thoroughfares, are relatively “minute endeavors,” are concerned mainly with commercial development, and were created out of necessity. If you have visited a lot of them, you will find run-down, dilapidated camping sites, and visitors centers. You will also see littered beaches that show rampant erosion and trail degradation, which stink of cattle and sheep that are allowed to graze up and onto the public areas. There are a few notable exceptions, but by and large, these state parks are poorly managed.
To make myself clear: I do not think that areas of significant development, high multiple use, and heavy pressure should necessarily be prohibited. However, there must be a balance.
That balance includes preservation, protection of flora and fauna, and maintenance, as well as fees that guard against overuse, or a system of allotment that is fairly and equitably managed. I have created a list of these parks that prove my point.
1. Here are a few rare jewels that are showing signs of overuse, erosion, and trail degradation:
Antelope Island: I have enjoyed this area many times. Sadly, it is poorly managed and shows signs of vandalism. On my most recent visit, just a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the main facility historical ranch was unattended and showed serious signs of vandalism.
Fremont Indian: On the one-and-only time I visited this park, I saw that it was beautifully done, and it was a new construction, but a tiny, modest endeavor. I would be curious to know in what kind of condition it is, today.
Goblin Valley: I have visited this park a couple of times and found it to be well-managed as far as trash and upkeep of facilities, but poorly regulated as far as the traffic among the sandstone landscape. Perhaps that’s why some Boy Scouts were able to topple some of the formations several years ago.
Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail: I have been on this trail twice, and enjoyed riding my bike. I was glad to see that it had been preserved for this type of recreation.
Jordan River: This state park has been in the making for a long time. It suffers from receiving only occasional periods of renovation, but is often neglected and subject to lots of vandalism.
Snow Canyon: Snow Canyon is a rare jewel, although it’s showing signs of over-pressure.
Wasatch Mountains: All throughout these mountains, I saw loads and loads of trash, and serious trail degradation and erosion. The state’s management of this overrun resource is almost embarrassing.
2. Here is a list of the recreational reservoirs or marinas that are okay-- as long as you’re out boating and manage not to die among all the uneducated, immature, or drunken boaters. However, usually the shorelines are trashy, full of glass shards, and littered with fishing gear. Most have significant development and are lined with private property, or are exclusive for very limited uses (but not necessarily due to the pristine nature of the areas). None of them have been created for, nor are they managed to protect, wild flora and fauna. Also, most of them were created out of necessity (e.g., storage of water resources):
Bear Lake: On my many visits to Bear Lake, I see that while it is still very beautiful, it is overdeveloped, largely encircled with private property, and it is very crowded with boats and other motorized craft. Its advertised site attraction features two concessionaires. There is no mention of any concern about preservation.
Deer Creek: I have visited deer creek many times. It is a dirty, noisy, trashy, overly congested reservoir.
East Canyon: See my Deer Creek review, above.
Great Salt Lake: I have visited this park several times over many years. If you own a boat or belong to the rowing club, you’ll see it’s a great place. Other than that, you’ll find the surrounding area trashy and poorly managed.
Other recreational reservoirs or marinas: Otter Creek, Green River, Huntington, Palisade, Piute (this was a disgustingly dirty place, overrun by sheep and cattle), Starvation, Rockport, Sand Hollow, Scofield, Steinaker, Utah Lake, Willard Bay, Yuba, Hyrum, Jordanelle
(I must add one positive note on all of these reservoirs: When I’ve been out on their watery expanses, with the dirt and trash having sunk to the bottom, they appear beautiful and are fun to water ski on.)
3. Here are a few of the state’s minuscule and modest park museums, or “postage stamp” points of interest. Some are fairly well-planned as far as the information they provide, but several of them are not well-maintained.
Anasazi: My one-time visit was interesting. However, this place was visibly overrun, worn out, had trash, and was a very a modest affair that did not preserve or protect any wildlife, habitat or flora. Its main plant was the invasive tamarisk.
Camp Floyd: I have never visited Camp Floyd in its current configuration and cannot comment on it, other than I know it is a very minuscule and modest affair.
Dead Horse: In regard to the several times I have visited this place, I would say that Dead Horse is a beautiful little “postage stamp” of an overlook that does nothing more than preserve a view of the canyon. I also remember seeing moderate vandalism and graffiti, there.
Flight Park: I have seen that this park is a begrudging concession to para- and hang gliders, but will some day be overrun by the burgeoning development and encroaching gravel pit.
Other minuscule and modest park museums, or “postage stamp” points of interest: Frontier Homestead, Edge Of The Cedars, Millsite, Territorial Statehouse, Heritage Park, Utah Field House
4. Here are the real disasters. Most are overrun, poorly managed, have too much pressure, or are pinpoint interests that cater too heavily to those who want to race their dune buggies and motorcycles, at the expense of other park visitors’ enjoyment. Most of these places have serious erosion issues and are in need of serious trail maintenance:
Coral Pink: My one-time visit revealed a trashy, overrun place where you had to be either concerned for your life, or partially drunk, in response to the motorcycles swarming around you. You must be vigilant for your safety. This is certainly a beautiful place, but it is in great need of care, and it constantly smelled of gasoline combustion engines.
Gunlock: My several visits have confirmed this place is a disaster. Other than the natural cleansing that the spring runoff gives it, it was littered with feces, used toilet paper, trash galore, and smelled of urine.
5. I can’t comment on any of the following, but they are all modest affairs: Escalante Petrified Forest, Goosenecks, Kodachrome Basin, Quail Creek, Red Fleet.
Loren M. Lambert © December 29, 2016
To make myself clear: I do not think that areas of significant development, high multiple use, and heavy pressure should necessarily be prohibited. However, there must be a balance.
That balance includes preservation, protection of flora and fauna, and maintenance, as well as fees that guard against overuse, or a system of allotment that is fairly and equitably managed. I have created a list of these parks that prove my point.
1. Here are a few rare jewels that are showing signs of overuse, erosion, and trail degradation:
Antelope Island: I have enjoyed this area many times. Sadly, it is poorly managed and shows signs of vandalism. On my most recent visit, just a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the main facility historical ranch was unattended and showed serious signs of vandalism.
Fremont Indian: On the one-and-only time I visited this park, I saw that it was beautifully done, and it was a new construction, but a tiny, modest endeavor. I would be curious to know in what kind of condition it is, today.
Goblin Valley: I have visited this park a couple of times and found it to be well-managed as far as trash and upkeep of facilities, but poorly regulated as far as the traffic among the sandstone landscape. Perhaps that’s why some Boy Scouts were able to topple some of the formations several years ago.
Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail: I have been on this trail twice, and enjoyed riding my bike. I was glad to see that it had been preserved for this type of recreation.
Jordan River: This state park has been in the making for a long time. It suffers from receiving only occasional periods of renovation, but is often neglected and subject to lots of vandalism.
Snow Canyon: Snow Canyon is a rare jewel, although it’s showing signs of over-pressure.
Wasatch Mountains: All throughout these mountains, I saw loads and loads of trash, and serious trail degradation and erosion. The state’s management of this overrun resource is almost embarrassing.
2. Here is a list of the recreational reservoirs or marinas that are okay-- as long as you’re out boating and manage not to die among all the uneducated, immature, or drunken boaters. However, usually the shorelines are trashy, full of glass shards, and littered with fishing gear. Most have significant development and are lined with private property, or are exclusive for very limited uses (but not necessarily due to the pristine nature of the areas). None of them have been created for, nor are they managed to protect, wild flora and fauna. Also, most of them were created out of necessity (e.g., storage of water resources):
Bear Lake: On my many visits to Bear Lake, I see that while it is still very beautiful, it is overdeveloped, largely encircled with private property, and it is very crowded with boats and other motorized craft. Its advertised site attraction features two concessionaires. There is no mention of any concern about preservation.
Deer Creek: I have visited deer creek many times. It is a dirty, noisy, trashy, overly congested reservoir.
East Canyon: See my Deer Creek review, above.
Great Salt Lake: I have visited this park several times over many years. If you own a boat or belong to the rowing club, you’ll see it’s a great place. Other than that, you’ll find the surrounding area trashy and poorly managed.
Other recreational reservoirs or marinas: Otter Creek, Green River, Huntington, Palisade, Piute (this was a disgustingly dirty place, overrun by sheep and cattle), Starvation, Rockport, Sand Hollow, Scofield, Steinaker, Utah Lake, Willard Bay, Yuba, Hyrum, Jordanelle
(I must add one positive note on all of these reservoirs: When I’ve been out on their watery expanses, with the dirt and trash having sunk to the bottom, they appear beautiful and are fun to water ski on.)
3. Here are a few of the state’s minuscule and modest park museums, or “postage stamp” points of interest. Some are fairly well-planned as far as the information they provide, but several of them are not well-maintained.
Anasazi: My one-time visit was interesting. However, this place was visibly overrun, worn out, had trash, and was a very a modest affair that did not preserve or protect any wildlife, habitat or flora. Its main plant was the invasive tamarisk.
Camp Floyd: I have never visited Camp Floyd in its current configuration and cannot comment on it, other than I know it is a very minuscule and modest affair.
Dead Horse: In regard to the several times I have visited this place, I would say that Dead Horse is a beautiful little “postage stamp” of an overlook that does nothing more than preserve a view of the canyon. I also remember seeing moderate vandalism and graffiti, there.
Flight Park: I have seen that this park is a begrudging concession to para- and hang gliders, but will some day be overrun by the burgeoning development and encroaching gravel pit.
Other minuscule and modest park museums, or “postage stamp” points of interest: Frontier Homestead, Edge Of The Cedars, Millsite, Territorial Statehouse, Heritage Park, Utah Field House
4. Here are the real disasters. Most are overrun, poorly managed, have too much pressure, or are pinpoint interests that cater too heavily to those who want to race their dune buggies and motorcycles, at the expense of other park visitors’ enjoyment. Most of these places have serious erosion issues and are in need of serious trail maintenance:
Coral Pink: My one-time visit revealed a trashy, overrun place where you had to be either concerned for your life, or partially drunk, in response to the motorcycles swarming around you. You must be vigilant for your safety. This is certainly a beautiful place, but it is in great need of care, and it constantly smelled of gasoline combustion engines.
Gunlock: My several visits have confirmed this place is a disaster. Other than the natural cleansing that the spring runoff gives it, it was littered with feces, used toilet paper, trash galore, and smelled of urine.
5. I can’t comment on any of the following, but they are all modest affairs: Escalante Petrified Forest, Goosenecks, Kodachrome Basin, Quail Creek, Red Fleet.
Loren M. Lambert © December 29, 2016
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